Shloka 23

मुक्तयतिदेहसंस्काररहस्यं — The Esoteric Rites for the Bodies of Liberated Ascetics

Devanagari script

मृगटंकत्रिशूलाग्र्यवरदानविभूषितम् । त्रिनेत्रं चन्द्रशकलं गंगोल्लासिजटाधरम्

Transliteration

mṛgaṭaṃkatriśūlāgryavaradānavibhūṣitam | trinetraṃ candraśakalaṃ gaṃgollāsijaṭādharam

Translation

Adorned with the emblem of the deer and the excellent trident, graced with boons bestowed upon devotees; three‑eyed, bearing the crescent moon, and wearing matted locks made radiant by the presence of the Gaṅgā.

Word by Word

• mṛga-ṭaṃka-triśūla-agrya-vara-dāna-vibhūṣitam: adorned with deer(-emblem), axe, trident, foremost (weapons), and boon-giving
• mṛga-ṭaṃka-triśūla-agrya-vara-dāna-vibhūṣitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + ṭaṃka (प्रातिपदिक) + triśūla (प्रातिपदिक) + agrya (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + dāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhūṣita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √bhūṣ धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle, -ta), ‘vibhūṣita’ = adorned; पूर्वपदसमाहारः (coordinative listing)

• tri-netram: three-eyed
• tri-netram: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• candra-śakalam: a piece of the moon (crescent)
• candra-śakalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक) + śakala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• gaṅgā-ullāsi-jaṭā-dharam: bearing matted locks radiant with the Gaṅgā
• gaṅgā-ullāsi-jaṭā-dharam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gaṅgā (प्रातिपदिक) + ullāsin (प्रातिपदिक) + jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य जटाः गङ्गया उल्लासिन्यः (whose matted locks are radiant with Gaṅgā)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganga

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It presents Saguna Shiva’s sacred marks—Trinetra, Trishula, Chandrashekhara, and Gangadhara—as contemplative supports: by meditating on these signs, the devotee turns the mind from pasha (bondage) toward Pati (the Lord), awakening bhakti that leads to grace and liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

While the Linga points to Shiva’s transcendent (nirguna) reality, this verse emphasizes his manifest (saguna) form for dhyana and devotion; both approaches converge in Shaiva Siddhanta as complementary—form-based worship ripens the heart to realize the formless Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Shiva-dhyana: visualize the three-eyed Lord with the crescent moon and Gaṅgā in his jata, and recite the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); on Mahashivratri, combine it with simple abhisheka and steady japa as an offering of devotion.